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Process for Adopting Regulations

The Regulations Committee is responsible for all rules in the Wildlife Code. Members are appointed by the Director, and include Brian Canaday, Fisheries Division; Lisa Allen, Forestry Division; Jennifer Battson, Wildlife Division; Larry Yamnitz, Protection Division; Mike Hubbard, Resource Science Division, and Bill White, Private Land Services Division. General Counsel Jennifer Frazier or her designee serves as advisor to the Committee. The Regulations Committee is chaired by Deputy Director Tom Draper.

The Committee typically meets ten (10) working days before most Commission meetings. Generally, the Committee deals with proposed changes in the next year’s Wildlife Code during the months of February and July; deer seasons and early migratory bird seasons in May; waterfowl seasons in August; turkey season in November; and other matters as they come up.

Division, Region or public brings recommendation to the Regulations Committee for consideration (some recommendations will have incorporated stakeholder input at this stage).

The Regulations Committee, which meets approximately ten times per year, either approves, denies, or returns the recommendation to staff for further study (including instructions to engage, or further involve, stakeholders).

Once approved by the Regulations Committee, a recommendation is submitted through the Director to the Conservation Commission for approval. The Commission may approve, veto or table the recommendation.

Recommendations approved by the Conservation Commission are filed with the Administrative Rules Division, Missouri Secretary of State, as Proposed Rules or Proposed Amendments, for publication in the Missouri Register.

Once published, there is a 30-day public comment period. If comments are received, they are shared with members of the Regulations Committee.

Those comments are compiled and shared with the Conservation Commission. During a regularly scheduled meeting, they will conduct a vote to approve the final Order of Rulemaking as written, with changes, or they may withdraw the rule based on input from citizens. If no comments are received, after the 30-day comment period the Proposed Rule or Amendment is filed again with the Administrative Rules Division, Missouri Secretary of State as an Order of Rulemaking per Commission order.

After filing an Order of Rulemaking, the Proposed Rule or Proposed Amendment becomes effective either 30 days after publication in the State Code of Regulations or another specified future date. Most rule changes handled in the Department’s annual code review process become effective March 1 of the following year.

Seasons and limits are excepted from the requirement for filing as a proposed amendment under section 536.021, RSMo. In rare circumstances, rules that meet the requirements of section 536.025, RSMo, may be filed as emergency rules and become effective ten (10) days after filing with the Secretary of State.

Those wishing to be placed on the agenda for a presentation or other business must send a written request to Tom A. Draper, Regulations Committee Chair, Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180, or Fax to 573-751-4467, at least ten (10) working days before the meeting date.

When you violate the Wildlife Code, the state assesses points against your hunting, trapping or fishing permits. You can lose your hunting, trapping and fishing privileges if you're assessed too many points.

The Wildlife Code of Missouri protects our state's ecologically sensitive caves and the wildlife that depend on them. It is illegal to enter a conservation-area cave unless you have a special-use permit.

The Wildlife Code of Missouri provides for the taking of wildlife during prescribed hunting and trapping seasons and under other circumstances, such as when wildlife is causing damage to property or when it threatens the safety of humans, livestock or pets.

The Wildlife Code of Missouri is available online as part of the Code of State Regulations and is published by the Missouri Secretary of State. Printed versions are available at permit vendors statewide.

Regs and Areas

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